Good times....

(Sunset at the lake house)

(Ha my kids aren't always this friendly to each other)

(Oh how they love the beach)


(water babies)

(ickle Zach)

(A spot of cricket anyone?)

(The perfect day for it)

(Even Brazilian's play cricket LOL)

(perfect golf practise)

We had a brilliant weekend with my whole family at our holiday house over the Australia day long weekend filled with drinking, eating, laughing, crying, an afternoon game of backyard cricket, an evening game of scene it and of course a day at the beach.

I am so grateful for time spent with my mum and sisters. Unfortunately we don't do it more often. This year, we vowed that will change.

Tomorrow is a big day. The kids go back to school for the new year and it's my baby girls 9th birthday :)

Think like a stylist...think like Matthew Mead!! (week two of our collaboration)

With the continuing trend toward plunging temperatures, those of us in colder climes are forced indoors to escape the freezing cold. This of course leads to thoughts of decorating, for those of us who share this passion. As we attempt to warm ourselves by the fire, we start noticing the predictability of our rooms, the tired arrangements, and the pillows and blankets that have seen better days. Suddenly, a lightbulb goes off: what if we were to actually add a little spark to our decor...add to our collections (or start new ones), and repurpose that which we already have?

Who better to look to for style inspiration than our good friend (and style guru) Matthew Mead? As promised, Matthew is back with another good kick in our decorating pants (although he's too nice to actually deliver a real kick) to spring us into action and vamp up our spaces.

Here is Matthew's tip of the week and for those of us who like to shop...well, we just have to follow his advice. After all, if Matthew Mead tells you to do it, that should be reason enough!!

He said: Collect something new

"There is no better way for me to rebound from a style slump than to get out and look for something beyond my comfort zone. I am a huge fan of British and Australian magazines and often try to emulate their exceptional sensibility for mixing old with modern. In that effort, I go on a hunt for items with a colorful and shapely pedigree from the 60's. Jenny (my wife) has a penchant for Eva Zeisle pottery and dishes... I always pick up Russell Wright dining sets in great colors (chartreuse is one of my favorites). I like art, Eames inspired chairs and tables and all types of modern hanging light fixtures and graphic objects (my new web site debuting in February will be a real glimpse inside how my style is influenced by this design period.) These scavenger hunts become an inspirational game for me as I search for these objects amongst the myriad of collectibles out there. Its fun to see how many of one thing you can find in a day to create an instant collection and to see how similar items can be priced so differently. So try it for yourself... purchase a few new surprise antiques that bring a breath of fresh air to what you already have and makes your vignettes a bit more unexpected."

Here are some fine examples of how adding to our collections can perk up our home. This is Matthew's weekend bounty...(all photos courtesy Matthew Mead, unless otherwise noted):

"I discovered these new modern elements on my antiquing foray this weekend. The colors and shapes are just the "kick" that my traditional collections need."


"This mini chartreuse vase is perfect for flowers or greens on my desk... look at how the shape and color mix well with an early yellow ware bowl, old porcelain knobs strung on string and a classic gold leaf picture frame... all the items in the mix get a breath of new life."


"The blue translucent bowl provides "pop" and relief for country transferware... I feel like I have a whole new set of dishes!"


"An Eva Zeisle creamer is at home with ironstone mugs made decades and decades earlier."


"I just love bringing in "new" old things to my collections... a great and easy tip for blending... think about coordinating colors for a seamless mix of generational items."...Matthew Mead


She said: Speaking of vignettes...

Enter the stylist...and in this case, I mean you! I have always thought that the stylists have the best jobs in the magazine world. Dreaming up themes for the photo shoot, hunting down the appropriate props and treasures, tweaking and adjusting, guiding the photographer...really who wouldn't want that job? Well, maybe it's not as glamorous as it seems, but there is nothing stopping us from being the creative director of our own home.

As Matthew suggested, have another look at what adorns your walls. Have you had the same tired artwork on your walls? Even if you love what's there, why not try something else for a short time? Artfully arranged plates, collectibles, even your child's framed artwork...you may be surprised at just how easy it is to change style directions even if it is just for a season or two.

Finally, never ignore the style impact of the vignette. Examine all your landing places: do your shelves, tables, dressers, sideboards and countertops simply serve as a holding spot for clutter, half-hearted attempts at accessorizing, or accidental displays? If so, think like a stylist: pretend you are actually thinking of photographing the vignette. Do the items displayed complement each other, are they to scale, or could they be rearranged to have more impact? Peruse your own home for items to try. Simply moving items to another spot can enhance their appeal. Think like a stylist when decorating your seasonal home! Seasonal decorating is not a permanent fix; rather a way to rediscover your treasures, the features of your home, and incorporate elements particular to that season. Embrace the season...and all it has to offer!

Here are some examples of great styling:

photo sources: (above ): Matthew Mead Style; (top right): source unknown

photo source: Pottery Barn

Winter tourists...

The view from the CN Tower..

First timers!!

Well, as I mentioned the other day,we fell off the turnip truck and landed in the big city of Toronto!!

What a whirlwind weekend!! We flew in on Thursday and out on Monday and exhausted are we...not to mention a wee bit more experienced (well, I am anyway). This was the first time our kids have flown and their innocence wafted from them like the smell of cut grass! In fact, my youngest son had two concerns about our plane. First, he wondered if our vehicle would be loaded onto the plane and then, on the flight home, made me alert the stewardess to show her what he felt was a safety hazard with the window next to him. He "felt a draft" coming from it, and not reassured by her (she did look a tiny bit concerned), settled for no less than the pilot himself to have a look!! All was well, and he didn't have to worry about getting "sucked out the window" and he excused the pilot to commence take-off. The funny thing is, he is my reckless, fearless child...

"Give me a quick rundown on flying this thing...with my memory, it should be a piece of cake..."

Before take-off, we got a tour of the cockpit. Just as I was squeezing myself into his cramped seat, the pilot instructed me to be careful to not "bang into any switches." Gulp... what if I already had? It would surely be my fault if we all went down!! The kids then insisted on chewing gum during takeoff and almost panicked when I couldn't find it in time. Honestly, I know they haven't led the priveleged life that some of their peers have, but do they have to embarrass me with their small town ways?? It was sweet to see my eldest just shaking his head at being above the clouds...saying, "I just don't believe it..." Personally, I grew up never doing anything, as we just couldn't afford to even think of family vacations and the like. It has made me very appreciative of anything we thus do, and although our children have experienced much more than we did, they still haven't experienced serious travel like kids today seem to take for granted. They truly appreciated this trip and we were so excited to be able to do it for them.

Like good tourists, we toured the CN tower (I even stood on the glass floor!) which is the world's tallest free standing structure. Then, while the kids and hubby toured the Hockey Hall of Fame, I indulged in a little retail therapy..which led to the sorest feet I have ever experienced. Like a fool, I wanted to look at least somewhat fashionable, and of course, I didn't really pull it off, and instead suffered in the pursuit! Which led me to the realization that I don't necessarily want to fit in with certain fashion styles. Especially the leggings + babydoll dress + bad eighties boots look I saw everywhere (on the young set)! Maybe if I was young and skinny again...but all I know is the good Lord meant for me to wear that stuff then, but not now. Besides, I am a preppy girl at heart...so the long duffle coats with black, square-toed boots suited me much better. Which is basically the other predominant fashion I saw floating around the city. I was actually a bit disappointed with the fashion and shopping! Everything was so spread out and when you finally reached your destination, the exhorbitant prices nearly knocked me over!! Just to prove my point, this store (Au Lit) had sheet sets that sold for $500-$1200 and I literally couldn't afford (in good conscience, anyway) anything in the store!! Personally I'd feel guilty sleeping on such pricey bedding while others don't even have a blanket to cover themselves with... I guess I just believe that my sleep needs (or skin) is no more deserving than anyone else's and some things are just so indulgent that they seem vulgar...but that's just me. Somebody has to be purchasing such luxuries...

The highlight for the kids was the visit to the Much Music studios (and meeting the veejays) and the basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks. What an exciting outing!! They do an incredible job at pumping up the crowd and if it wasn't for the drunk guys behind us with a proclivity for the F-bomb (lovely), it would have been perfect! Which leads me to my other observation in Toronto. While everyone we met was very nice, I encountered a certain lack of social niceties...which I'm sure is just a symptom of a faster-paced life and talking too much on cell phones as one walks... Indeed, I was bumped into many times and found myself apologizing (in true Maritime style) while the guilty party seemed totally oblivious, if not annoyed at me for being there! Where is that turnip truck when you need it?? My only other complaint was the way that the shop keepers in many of the more swank stores would size you up like a side of beef to see if you were worthy of their attention, and of course, me in my dull clothes and lack of chic, dark-framed glasses did not pass muster!! I went into a store called Teatro Verde and politely asked if I could photograph the most exquisite chandelier, and she sniffed, "Noooo... I don't think so..." in a very posh voice. Hmmph...I'd show her: I politely turned on my heel and as soon as I could get into running distance, snapped this photo!! I can be rude, too!!!

The ever so swank Teatro Verde: actually not that great...

Our hosts, my husband's brother and sister- in- law, were the most gracious hosts and we all loved spending time with them and their adorable daughter. Good food, good company, coupled with some great outings added up to a wonderful first trip to Toronto for the kids. I was fortunate enough that my good friend Chris met up with me for a day's shopping and we had so much fun navigating the shops on Queen St. East.

Here are some photos I took. Now's the time to check out if you're not family (or bored... or just polite):

My BIL's beautiful home (this one deserves the beautiful label)

The "boys" looking entirely too happy...except for Gray...caught him in a blink...or stupor!!

Me and my posse at the Raptors game..so much fun!!

1st subway ride...don't they look impressed?

The Toronto Zoo: a wonderful place even in winter: just look at this mother gorilla nursing her baby...so sweet!!

mama chimpanzee and her baby...

Meet Charles...he was very shy...he'd sneak a peek at me and then look away quickly (although I didn't look my best, surely he wouldn't have found me that hard to look at it??). The gorillas were my favourite...they had to drag me away!!

Well, we had a great time in the big city and made lots of great memories. Toronto is definitely a beautiful city and is a great place to visit any time of the year!!